Los Angeles does not require replacement parking when a garage is converted to an ADU. State law also protects the existing structure's setback and, on a single-family lot, allows a limited expansion for entry and exit. City Planning's memo exempts ADUs from Park and Affordable Housing Linkage fees.
Last verified 2026-10-18. Rules change; the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) has the final word (311 or (213) 473-3231).
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LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(12)(iii) says parking spaces lost when a garage or carport is converted to an ADU, or demolished for one, do not have to be replaced. This is separate from any parking rule for a new detached City-rules ADU.
LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(12)(iii); ZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Table 1 note 8City Planning's ZA Memo 143 says ADUs and junior ADUs are exempt from the City's Park Fee and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. Other permit and school charges need their own review.
ZA Memo 143 Rev. 1, Section III.D| Type | Est. all-in cost | Est. rent |
|---|---|---|
| Garage conversion | $220-$371 per sq ft of garage (about $88,000-$149,000 for a 400 sq ft garage) | $1,725-$2,525/mo |
Estimates for a first conversation, not bids or appraisals. Source: LotUpside price book la-2026-10.
Ask the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) before you rely on these.
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No. LAMC 12.22 A.33(c)(12)(iii), restated in City Planning's ZA Memo 143, says garage or carport spaces converted to an ADU do not have to be replaced.
Government Code section 66314(d)(7) says no new setback is required for an existing accessory structure converted to an ADU or one rebuilt in the same location and dimensions.
On a single-family lot, Government Code section 66323(a)(1)(A) allows up to 150 sq ft beyond an existing accessory structure's dimensions only to accommodate entry and exit. Ask LADBS whether a proposed layout fits that rule.
City Planning's ZA Memo 143, Section III.D, exempts ADUs and junior ADUs from the Park Fee and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. It does not give this garage a project-specific permit total.
Neither. It is a screening from public records, not professional advice, and not a survey, soils report, appraisal, loan offer or permit; every number is an estimate. A licensed designer confirms the final plan, and your city or county gives final approval.